Darin's TMS Success Story - Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Chest and Back Pain

[@0506cdh]

Thanks Dan for the opportunity to share my story and for everything you do to get this message out! If my story helps one person avoid an unnecessary surgery or medication, then it was time well spent 🎉

[@ericacostea7435]

Hey Darin. Thanks so much for sharing your recovery. You seem like a really great person. It's been roughly 15 years for me pain wise, different part of body than you though. Step by step, bit by bit. Amazing that you were able to have a relationship and get married through that journey of yours. Congrats on baby coming! Funny that you said at first you didn't like Dan's videos....lol.....same with me. Now I take notes about what he teaches😂

[@PainFreeYou]

Rock on Darin. Yes, your story will help MANY people. Already 1000 views. I even mentioned you in a video I'm posting tomorrow about "Have you had surgery? Why hasn't it healed?" Thank you again.

[@ofearthseasky]

Curious Darin if you have had the flu poke. I had them 2x in 97&98 and developed autoimmune issues, chronic pain, weird rashes, rosacea, and TOL in the arm I now believe I had the shot in. I’m only waking up over 20 years later to realize what happened to me.

[@0506cdh]

@@ofearthseasky nah, this was just good old fashioned TMS

[@BrendaJarrell-w3b]

Thank you for your inspiring story!

[@emersonjordan6383]

I also was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. When you said you thought that there must be something wrong with your nervous system, I really related to that, because I thought that there was some thing messed up about mine. But since you recovered completely, that is extremely encouraging. Thanks to Dan’s support group, I have been writing and typing for the first time in a long time with confidence. Yay!

[@PainFreeYou]

Awesome. Glad you are seeing progress.

[@mollieanne]

my grandma never exercised and never had pains lol Lived until 102. Wow Darin, this is scary what the medical field can do to our heads. I like my Great Aunts method about never ever going to a doctor and living happy until 90 ha ha

[@anniechin2162]

Thank you 🙏 Dan the Mindset Man and Darin for sharing this Inspirational story! Congratulations on your new addition to the family so much joy! ❤

[@awakeningalchemy5744]

Thank you both for this gift of an interview. "Gradually my brain stopped being scared." You have struck gold! Gradually my brain will stop being scared too. Much love and appreciation. 💜♥

[@mmirafuentess1990]

Thanks for your video. It’s impactful! I was diagnosed in 2005 at UCLA. Still suffering, I did all the surgeries and even had a spinal cord stimulator implanted with 12 leads, it did worked or help, but the battery died inside so it was removed in June 1 2015. Currently seeing my Vascular surgeon again. Good luck my fellow sufferers. 🌹

[@PainFreeYou]

If you aren't aware of TMS/Perceived Danger Pain, My fast start playlist explains what is going on, how to do an assessment for YOUR symptoms to see what is going on with you. Then it maps out the recovery process. DansFastStart.com

[@caliborn6884]

This was the best video! You answered so many of the questions that I had had in my mind. Thank you for this thoughtful and thorough video interview.

[@PainFreeYou]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Lara-dq7yb]

Thank you Darin and Dan for this beautiful share.

[@PainFreeYou]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ameliastringer6614]

Thank you for saying that we don’t have to give it meaning. I’ve been doing that so much and that just leads to more ruminating and thinking about the symptoms. Now working on just telling myself I know what this is and I’m fine and then redirecting my attention to something else. Trying to find meaning just gives it more attention. Took me a year to learn that!

[@PainFreeYou]

Excellent.

[@ajyvr305]

Thank you Darin and Dan for this interview. I can so relate to the excitment when a doctor says yes there is something wrong with you! I think TMSers all probably have the same issue! Oh your MRI showed this or that and you have this! I have been diagnosed with several labels now the latest is fibromyalgia from SI joint dysfunction and more. I believe it's all TMS and I too can be a success story one day with using these techniques and tools. You may have saved me some money and more aggravation by not seeing more specialists and chasing more invalid illnesses. So happy you found your way out of pain and I will too. 🙂🐾

[@Truerealism747]

Nothing found in my MRI apart from curvature still labeled fybromyalgia though people with gad are to

[@beatz3279]

This id great thanks for sharing. As someone with diagnosed TOs and subclavian vein compression and severe neck back chest arm pain that has progressed to basically disabled on right arm and a hocked up collarbone snd sowllen neck i am seeing a surgeon. Pt they reccomended has done nothing but made me worse so follow up in dew weeks we discussing surgery. However the literature seems to say how great success is with this surgery yet real life stories seem to not reflect that. I am hence trying all i cam to heal without surgery and reading sarnos books again and listening to healing stories. The thought of getting i to debt for surgery to end up worse is impossible for me to comprehend. But at same time im not sure if mine is different and needs the surgery due to hand and arm discoloration and scar tissue forming that is making more compressions. I just torn on if surgery will help allow blood flow through to heal these damaged tissues or keep at the work and hope for the best in being fine. 10yrs of pregessive hell to get to basically disabled and never had kids or started a family due to this hell. My life has been just surviving not living as such so this is positive to hear. Just wonder if the vein VTOS is different scenario though to those cured with NTOs. I am worried that not having surgery will cause clotting and then require emegency surgery which can happen and then leaving the compression can destroy the vein and artery making things worse. So im torn how much longer do i try this worl or get surgery. Its been a year of doing this work and I've for worse 😢

[@PainFreeYou]

Obviously, see the doctors to rule out anything urgent/significant. But in the meanwhile, you can understand more about symptoms and how to determine their cause by watching my fast start playlist. DansFastStart.com

[@lindascott7644]

❤ Incredibile interview.. touched on so many areas I could relate to and experienced.. Thank You So Much...

[@PainFreeYou]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@LizB13]

I love this story. My conditioned response is sitting, and I have a ton of trouble with graded exposure with sitting. I am not sure how to be consistent because I need to sit in the car to get anywhere, like groceries, etc. Any suggestions?

[@PainFreeYou]

We don't practice graded exposure when we have somewhere to go. But you CAN do it when you are home and have a little time. These two steps walk you through the process. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2TLaYeVh7BmlZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2TLaYeVh7BmlZo

[@LizB13]

Thank you Dan @@PainFreeYou

[@kazzey888]

The main reason I loved Dan's videos ALONG w Nicole's was because of Dan's simplicity, his reassuring tone, his consistency, his no-nonsense approach. He is a regular guy. Seriously, I first found Nicole, Dan, Dr. Dan Ratner & Eddy Lindenstein's The mind and Fitness podcast

[@nataliegoh27]

So relatable, although, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (not TOS). I started suffering from it at a similar time - 2008/9 when I was at university. It started as RSI (in the right arm) and then spread to the left side (just like your story). I have participated in the Curable groups, which were quite useful, but I feel like I've been too intense with the recovery process and not consistently following through with a particular healing technique. I do something for 2 weeks or so, then think it's not working and move on to something new. I've also taken a whole year out of work, which I'm now questioning as it has left me with a LOT of time to dwell on recovery.

[@PainFreeYou]

If you haven't watched yet, my fast start playlist is suggested. DansFastStart.com

[@nataliegoh27]

@@PainFreeYou Thanks Dan! :)

[@CherryLane-si1yj]

@danbuglio Hey Dan, I have a question. I once mentioned TMS/PDP to a friend. His response was that it sounded like faith healing, and it sounded un-critique-able. By that, he meant that he was suspicious because there were so many different approaches (i.e., journaling, your method, somatic tracking). This made him suspicious that it wasn’t real. I am not trying to persuade this person. He’s really stuck in his position. I wondered though what your response would be to someone with that viewpoint. Again, not trying to persuade. Just taken aback that I didn’t have a ready answer. I mean, I suppose one response might be, “Look, if you visit three surgeons, you generally get three different answers for what to do. Why do multiple modalities and approaches invalidate TMS/PDP? The brain’s complicated, man.” Just wondered what you’d say in a similar situation. Great success story, Darin. Well done.

[@PainFreeYou]

Simply put, the brain runs the entire human body. Teaching the brain it's opinion of danger is incorrect is how we turn off pain. Have them watch one video on Perceived Danger Pain. Or better yet, watch the fast start playlist before they discount it. If they have no pain or symptoms, I wouldn't bother trying to convince this person. If they DO have symptoms, encourage them to watch the fast start playlist. They have nothing to lose by getting a little insight into how this works. DansFastStart.com

[@CherryLane-si1yj]

Thank you.

[@mollieanne]

This whole journey you went on was so exhausting for you and also your young life to live like this. Not even to mention the financial cost and time. IMO journaling can be good if it is not just all about feeling broken and all the symptoms. I hope you are playing tennis again, picket ball is so fun too! BTW, thanks for doing the Big Brother, I had a Little Sister in the 1990s, I did not know the organization was still going. You would be a wonderful Big Brother for a youth.

[@hollymclemore1212]

I was diagnosed w/TOS several years ago. Dr at the time suggested I have my first rib removed. I declined. Because I’ve left it untreated for so long I’m Now Finding it’s increasingly difficult to relieve the intense numbness and pain in my hands, palms & arms. Effects my sleep waking me 4-5 times a night because the numbness is so intense and my daily life. It’s hard to use your hands when they are so numb and hurt so bad from the numbness. It’s my entire hand on both sides, my palms. When I first wake up it’s REAL bad, I used to be able to move around & the symptoms would subside some. Now I just can’t get it to subside no matter what I do. I can’t use my hands normally after waking up and for a large part of the morning. Have to stop whatever I’m doing because I’m unable to hold, grab to do much due to the pain & numbness

[@Lenneke8422-b3t]

Congratulations Darin what a story wow thank you for sharing sending you much love😘🙏🇳🇱🎊

[@Andypace41]

Great story, Darin. Glad you made it through. I wish I had known you before all this as I had TOS surgery with Dr. Lum and would have told you he is a rockstar and to put all your trust in him. Doesn’t do anything that isn’t needed. Sorry you had extra pain but you made it to a good place!

[@nancyrussell6598]

DARIN REALLY CONNECTED THE DOTS CLEARLY FOR US AND GOAL IS NOT TO RETURN TO WHAT WAS BUT TO GROW INTO MATURITY AND KNOWLEDGE.

[@Andypace41]

@@nancyrussell6598not sure if you were replying to me. All I was saying is that the doctor he referenced is one of the good guys.

[@Tomhayes-m8w]

He never needed surgery in the first place let alone finding your surgeon.

[@Andypace41]

@@Tomhayes-m8w Understood. I heard the story. The doctor I was referring to was the one who told him "don't have surgery!"

[@tominnc315]

Wow. The things we do! I have not done surgery but so many of us 22:10 can relate to chasing the invisible man , it has to be something! Something must be wrong…..there is. Its called doubt. Im struggling with crawling outa doubt. Great segment

[@PainFreeYou]

Glad you liked it Tom.

[@TOSUnbound]

Out of curiosity, do you give agency to folks who used a combination of strategies aside from just Mind Body to overcome chronic pain? For example PRI, Expansion Compression Model, Meditation, Lifestyle Changes, Addiction Intervention, etc.

[@PainFreeYou]

Folks are welcome to work with whatever practices they want. However, I stick fairly close to Dr Sarno's original recommendation of "Stop all physical treatments". For example, I don't believe chronic pain is a posture issue at all. I have horrible posture and no pain. Haven't for 14 years. And it was never the cause or cure for my 13 years of pain. I'm not that familiar with Expansion Compression Model so I cannot comment. Meditation is fine for overall well being. Addiction intervention is fine. Lifestyle changes - also fine for overall wellness.

[@TOSUnbound]

@@PainFreeYou Ah okay, most of my pain was from excessive gaming and pushups. It went away with positional breathing exercises mixed with some performance exercises over the course of a year and a half along with changing my lifestyle in other ways significantly. I don’t believe posture is related to pain either. However, I think my pain was caused by my gaming habits creating a twist at my elbow. My PT showed me the difference between the tension in my nerve before and after one of my exercises and it was very significant which made me continue to stick with it. I used to actually hear my thoracic spine pop and feel a tingling into my hands. I just know that not everyone takes an approach that’s purely Mindbody, but I really like the community you built and it would be cool to have folks like us validated in our journeys. Your videos helped me stay positive even though I still took a mostly physical approach. I think it’s just nice to listen to someone who has been there before, especially since you upload so consistently.

[@rayleo8333]

@@TOSUnbound Couldn't your physical work have been TMS work with extra steps? All of those changes to your life made you feel safe while you re-integrated activity over time. Especially if you were listening to this kind of content while doing it.

[@TOSUnbound]

@@rayleo8333 I think it’s all connected. We’re always trying to simplify reality because reality is complex. It’s easy to point to one part of your recovery and convince yourself it was the key, but the real answer is that there is no silver bullet.

[@ezza1236]

In that case If I perceived that I’m too sexy does that mean my body willl feel sexy too :) 😂

[@PainFreeYou]

Haha - very likely.

[@ezza1236]

@@PainFreeYou it’s so strange how you could do the same activity and feel different symptoms , Last week I didn’t have intense flare from my trex drum show but this week I had a flare. 😂

[@Yaez.2709]

I would like some testimony from someone who has recovered after lumbar fusion with an alif box. I think that the difficulty to face the doubts after two surgeries is greater. According to the tests, I have tms, but the pain is very adept at presenting itself as structural and there are very few testimonials from people who have recovered from spinal fusion surgeries. I have seen many testimonials from people who were lucky not to have surgery because they discovered TMS earlier, but I discovered it when I already had two surgeries.

[@PainFreeYou]

In my opinion, you have healed from those surgeries. I touch on this in todays video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGOxYWiQpdeDnJI I do not track success stories by medical procedures prior to getting well. But I am confident there are TMS success stories after a fusion. Further, here is a thread on the TMS Wiki talking about spinal fusions. www.tmswiki.org/forum/threads/newbie-to-tms-will-my-spine-fusion-hold-me-back.3632/ The type of surgery doesn't matter. All surgeries heal. If pain persists after surgery, it's because the brain is still perceiving danger. (aka, the spine got messed up from surgery). If the doctors say the surgery was successful and the fusion looks correct, then it is very likely that it's TMS/Perceived Danger Pain. Have you taken the pain test to rule IN this thing called TMS/PDP? Take it here: YourPainTest.com. If your is behaving like TMS, that's what it is regardless of past surgeries.

[@Yaez.2709]

Thank you very much Dan, you are very helpful. Your recording helps me a lot. I have been reading and there is a part of me super convinced that I have tms, but I can't get it to the bottom of my subconscious. We continue on the road. Thanks, again.

[@PainFreeYou]

Make a decision and stick with it. @@Yaez.2709

[@PainFreeYou]

@@Yaez.2709 Ask and ye shall receive. Someone left me this comment today. "After 6 back surgeries the last surgeon said let’s go up another disc!!! I thought 7 is ridiculous !!! I knew it was TMS! Someone told me that spine surgery is usually a 50/50 chance of helping. Then if you have had any trauma in your past it takes that stat below 20% chance of helping! After 26 years of back pain and trying everything under the stars for help I found Dans videos. On the pain scale of 1-10, most of those years I was a 10plus!!! Today has been stressful and I am probably a 2!!! That is a miracle! I am getting there thanks to Dan!!!" Level 10 pain down to a 2. Damn good results and she is still recovering. You can do this too.

[@sobombeh]

This was lovely i laughed so much i forgot my pain 😂

[@beeandbloomhomestead]

I think the fact that you said that you can't have bilateral tos is a load of BS. How do you explain things that I have like scapular winging, severe shoulder dysfunction on my right side ( my PT said I have some of the worst shoulder dysfunction he's ever seen and he is actually the one who first diagnosed me) and on my left side I have muscle wasting and Raynaud's syndrome ? How do you explain the physical attributes of bilateral tos. Curious how you explain the physical attributes if you think it's all mental?

[@PainFreeYou]

A good way for you to know what is going on is to do the assessments. IsThisPDP.com - what do you score. How does your pain behave?

[@melanies4888]

TOS is a syndrom so it is a mess and a lot of people are misdiagnosed...In my case i got whiplash and afterwards i was assaulted by a PT , a very agressive and violent man that damaged my brachial plexus... i have physical prooves that i have tos, i have lost my job ,became disabled and in constant nerve pain ,also have damaged to my cranial nerve so talking hurts... i didnt get the surgery, i dont.know what to do .... i knew sarno before all this happened and i believed in it.and it actually did me.wrong cause yes a whiplash can damaged your body ( sarno takes that whiplash exemple saying it is nothing...blablabb) it being assaulted also can damaged your.physical body. Yet the surgert fir tos is very dangerous and has poor result so i am left with no solution and actually contemplated assisted d**** . This guy is nice but i believe he didnt have tos in the first place or at least not intense tos. Good for him.anyway.

[@nadinewaaijenberg6094]

I just freaked out because i didn‘t support longer not to speak about how i am feeling.. because you tell us not to freak out, i‘m suppressing these feelings… but after a few months i just cannot do this any longer… i should not talk about my symptoms but i had to tell my husband that i still have the same symptoms as last year.. when i am with other people i‘m playing a show for them… so that they don‘t see how bad i‘ m feeling because of my symptoms…😫 i don‘t know how to find the right way - i now that surpressing emotions is not good… but you tell us not to freak out and not to speak about our symptoms… but i have to talk to someone!!? I‘m feeling sou alone because nobody understands what i‘m goung through… 😢

[@PainFreeYou]

Nadine - freaking out confirms danger and will slow recovery. I recommend freaking out LESS. We do that with accurate knowledge that nothing really bad is happening. It's okay to feel fear, but try not to live in it all day long. I don't recommend suppressing emotions. Feel them. But don't dwell in them. Make sense? I recommend we not talk about symptoms. Why? It keeps us focused on them. However, there is nothing wrong with a sympathetic ear listening to your challenges. Do your best not to talk about symptoms all day long. The entire process is about teaching the brain we are safe. Freaking out and talking about symptoms all day is a sure fire way to keep the pain going. So what do I recommend? Safety. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4TWfKF3nKappLs kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6ucdq1qbrJrf8k

[@1STBUCKLEY]

​@@PainFreeYouwhat about talking to yourself in the mirror, if there isn't a sympathetic person. I can't be the only one talking to myself😂. You can get there. Day at a time.

[@1STBUCKLEY]

Thank you both for sharing. Overfilling the hope bucket.

[@nancyrussell6598]

DAN IS BURNING TONGUE TMS/PDP SYMPTOM?

[@angelamartin7885]

I'll answer that. Yes, my sister had burning tongue and was told it was her nerves. It's anxiety. People don't realize that you don't have to feel anxious to have anxiety symptoms. Brain is creating it.

[@nancyrussell6598]

WHEN I WENT ONLINE TO ASK THIS QUESTION AND THE ANSWER TO BE YES, THE SYMPTOMS DISAPPEARED.

[@PainFreeYou]

There is your proof right there. Wonderful. Yes it's TMS/PDP.

[@TOSUnbound]

I disagree that all TOS support groups are bad and hopeless. There are people with the actual physical manifestation of TOS that become pain free all the time from physical therapy in the TOS Unbound community.

[@beatz3279]

Where's this group from a fellow VTOs sufferer

[@TOSUnbound]

@@beatz3279 click bear

[@TOSUnbound]

@@beatz3279Reddit or d3scripton

[@TOSUnbound]

@@beatz3279it deletes my comments so 🤷🏻